Oscae



V0. RODRIGUEZ.

`GLOBE MANIPULATOR. APPLICATION FILED DEc.8.19II.

l ,8l 1,776. PIIIQIIIQII JIIIy 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@Miou/I 9,14

0. RODRIGUEZ.

GLOBE MANIPULAIOR. APPLICATION FILED DEC.8. I9I7. 1,8 l 1,776. 12m-medJuly 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@noauto/c @mung OSCAR RODRIGUEZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GLOBE-MANIPULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J lily 29, 1919.

Application led December 8, 1917.A Serial No. 206,253.

sides in the provision of a device of the above stated character sodesigned to enable the installation or removal of electric lightbulbspositioned either in ceiling or wall xtures in an easy and eihcientmanner and without any liability of damaging or braking the bulb.

A further object of the invention,"'among the other` features,contemplates the provi- Vsion of a globe gripping member capable ofadhering to the globe to not only hold the globe thereto, but furtherfacilitates the lobe being connected with or removed from t e fixturesin an eiicient and durable man- 'nel'.

A still further object. of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans for adjust- -ably holding the globe gripping member at l'has beenscrewed home to release the grippin member from the globe without anyliability of marring ordamaging the same.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features, details of construction and combination of parts whichwill hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying' drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the manipulator constructed for use; t

Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view illustiating the manner of connectionof the frame with the support;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the globe grippingmember and showing a bulb assocpited therewith;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 indicating the fiexed position of thediaphragm by dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame removed from the support; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line G-G of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the manipulatoras its entirety is denoted by the character 5 comprising a support 6adapted to be utilized as a handle for lifting or conveying themanipulator from place to place and substantially circular in crosssection, having provided therein at a point adjacent its upper end 7 anannular groove 8. The char- ;acter 9 denotes a skeleton frame providedat its base with a tubular collar 10 in which is threaded a fastener 11and upon the adjustment of the fastener in one direction the contact 12will embrace and be seated in the annular groove 8 of the support andmount therfranle -thereon for loose rotary movement. Diverging from thecollar 10 at diametric points are the limbs of the frame, indicated bythe character 13, and having formed integral therewith at their upper vends, a yoke 14 curved on the arc of a circle, Formed integral with-theframe at the point of intersection of the yoke with the limbs is atransverse reinforcing member 15 provided with a centrally locatedopening 16 alining vertically with the collar 10 and through which theupper end 7 of the support projects, for a purpose to be hereinaftermore fully stated. The yoke 14 is provided with an arcuate guide slot 17in which the flexible shaft 18 operates which shaft has a seal tightconnection at its inner end with the extreme upper end of the support 6at a point above the reinforcement. 15. Movably mounted over the yoke 14isa locking member 19 preferably constructed of metal and provided atits opposite ends with U-shaped guides 20 engaging over the oppositeends of the yoke 14, for slidably associating the locking membertherewith, and threadedly mounted in one of the guide anges is afastener 21 adapted to contact with one of the side edges of the yokeand establish a locking action of the locking member 19 with the yoke.Centrally formed in the locking member and in registry with the slot 17of the frameis an opening 22 through which the shaft projects.Consequently it is manifest, that the adjustment of the locking member19 in the are of a circle, will flex the shaft 18 and retain the shaftat an angle with respect-to the support 6, upon the tightening of thefastener 21 with the yoke 14. This action is advantageous, moreespecially, when it is desired to utilize the manipulator for theconnection or disconnection of electric light bulbs from side wallfixtures.

23 denotes a globe gripping member preferably constructed of rubber orthe like compresslble material and provided in the lower end thereofwith a contracted throat 24 in which the free end of the fiexible shaft18 is inserted in such a manner as to establish a seal tight connectionbetween the gripping member and this shaft. Provided in the outer end ofthe gripping member is a vacuum chamber 25 and the material forming thewalls of this chamber gradually decreases in thickness from the throat24 to the outer end thereof and thence is inturned to provide in theextreme outer end of the chamber a spaced fiexible diaphragm 26', onwhich is supported a plurality of suction cups 27. Formed on one side ofthe gripping member 23 at a point adjacent the throat 24 is a nipple 28having supported therein a check valve 29 which permits the air toescape from the vacuum chamber upon the compression of the diaphragm 26when placed in Contact with the globes or bulbs 30. After thecompression of the diaphragm when, the air has escaped through thenipple 28 the check valve 29 will automatically close, causing thediaphragm 26- to snugly adhere to the globe 30, through the provl- Asion of the suction cups 27, and maintaining sufficient gripping actionto the bulb to facilitate a complete connection or disconnection of thebulb with or from either ceiling or Wall fixtures. Assuming the grippingmember to be adjusted in the posltion shown in Fig. 1, that is, adaptedfor fixtures installed on the' side walls of dwellings, buildings or thelike places, after the bulb 30 has been screwed home, the release of thegripping member from the bulbmay be had without any liability ofdamaging or breaking the same. By imparting a further rot-ary movementt0 the support 6, the exible shaft 18 will transmit movement to thegripping member 23 sutiiciently to release its adhering gripping actionwith the bulb. Obviously, the manipulator is capable of the identicaloperation, whether the device is employed for ceiling or wall lights.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of construction and the method ofoperation will be readily apparent to these skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates, and While I have described the principles 0foperation of the invention together with the device which I now considerto be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood thatthe device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may bemade when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new, is

1. A manipulator for fragile articles embodying a support, and acompressible member provided with a series of suction cups havingconnection with the support and with which the article engages.

2. A manipulator for globes comprising a support, a gripping membertherefor, said gripplng member being provided in one end with a seriesof suction cups, and a valve. in the opposite extreme end of saidgripping member.

3. A manipulator for globes comprising a support, a. gri ping membertherefor, said gripping mem er being provided with a' flexiblediaphragm, and a series of suction cups carried by said diaphragm.

4. A manipulator embodying a support, a gripping member carried by saidsupport, a vacuum chamber formed in one end of the gripping member, thematerial forming the walls of said chamber gradually decreasing inthickness to provide therein a flexible diaphragm, and a plurality ofsuction cups mounted on said diaphragm.

5. A manipulator com rising a support, a gripping member there or, aflexible shaft connected at one end with the support and at its oppositeend with said gripping member, a slotted frame 'carried by the supportand through which one end of said shaft projects, and a locking memberslidable on said frame for holding the gripping member in variousadjusted positions.

6. A manipulator com rising a support, a gripping member there or, aflexible shaft for connecting the gripping member with said support, aslotted yoke carried by the support through which the shaft projects andoperates, and an apertured locking member slidably mounted on said yoke,a portion lof the shaft projecting through the aperture ofsaid lockingmember.

7. A manipulator for fragile articles comprismg a support, a grippingmember having connection therewith and provided with .a vacuum chamberhaving an outlet o envided in its outer end with a chamber, and adiaphragm formed contiguous' 'with the a flexible diaphragm obstructingthe receivwalls of the chamber, said diaphragm being 10 ing end of saidchamber and with which positioned Within said chamber and in the fragilearticle engages. spaced relation With the Walls thereof and' 9. Amanipulator for fragile articles comwith which the fragile articleengages. prising a support, a gripping member hav- In testimony whereofI aiix my signature. in connection with said support and prov1 e d inits outer end with a chamber, and OSCAR RODRIGUEZ.

